Professor Sung will discuss the nature of gene patenting, and provide an overview of various mechanisms for maintaining an optimal balance between patent exclusivity and public access to genomic inventions. These mechanisms include proposals regarding a research use exemption to patent infringement, the exercise of the federal government's march-in rights under the Bayh-Dole Act, and the establishment of biotechnology patent pools.

Following graduation from law school, Professor Sung served as a judicial clerk to (now Senior) Circuit Judge Raymond C. Clevenger, III, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, Washington, D.C. A registered patent attorney, he entered private practice specializing in biotechnology patent litigation with several national law firms, and now as a Partner with Nixon Peabody LLP. Professor Sung has also taught at the George Washington University Law School, the American University, Washington College of Law, the Northwestern School of Law of Lewis & Clark College, and Seattle University School of Law. He has published extensively in the area of intellectual property law on issues including those concerning biotechnology and technology transfer, and is the author of Patent Infringement Remedies (BNA Books 2004 & Supplements 2005-2006) and annual volumes of The Patent Law Handbook (Thomson/West 2003-2006).